Babangida’s Misguided Optimism 

by

Soboyejo A.S.A. Awosika-Coker, U.S.A.

Coming into a brand new year (and a new millennium for that matter), the last individual I would want to waste my extremely precious and valuable time on, is without question a certain gap-toothed former despot and avowed kleptomaniac, the self-styled Prince of Minna himself.

I have continued to watch, listen and observe in utter amazement the sudden ‘rebirth’ of this ‘hazardous waste material’ that Nigeria (thanks to the corrupt media) would like to utilize in her ‘house cleaning’ efforts. How in God’s name can this man still be a ‘force to be reckoned with’ in our nations politics? The answer is simple; Nigeria is finished!

Where are the so-called men and women of honour and repute that fought this former maximum ruler before? Have they become tired or are they also lining up with their hands stretched out and pockets turned inside out… in anticipation of the second coming of Lucifer? And what about the media! What is this perfidious hogwash that our people are constantly been fed about how charismatic and intelligent this organism is! If I may ask, what is so charismatic and intelligent about a man (if he’s that at all) that betrayed the trust and charge of a nation in every-way form, fashion. From state sponsored murders to pervasive drug trafficking, as well as a shameless and pernicious looting of the national treasury, we had it all thanks to the so-called evil genius. But worse still, Nigeria’s descent into anarchy has continued unabated… and who is supposed to rebuild a nation that is so broken down? I guess in the case of a nation like Nigeria, the architect of destruction himself!

In keeping with my own philosophy of always being pragmatic and protective of one’s environment, I have tried to be objective and positive about Nigeria, even in the face of the apparent state of despair and hopelessness in that nation. But there comes a point when if you are a person of integrity and principle, you must undoubtedly stand up and be counted.

I was a student at the University of Lagos in 1989 when this tyrant closed it and other institutions of higher learning for at least a year. Does he think we have forgotten? A whole generation of promising young men and women had their futures forever altered by this abhorrently narcissistic and devilish creature. So many young female undergraduates (I remember quite vividly) were so psychologically and emotional decimated that they engaged in self-destructive behaviour ranging from prostitution to being couriers for drug traffickers (many of whom were associates of the character in question and his so-called wife).

What took the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and others, years to build (in terms of infrastructure and a viable educational system in the south), this shameless and gutless cankerworm destroyed in less than a decade. For those that stayed back in Nigeria, they had to endure years of intense hardship resulting from a devastating decay in both social, economic and educational infrastructure…some ultimately made it, while others, far too numerous to mention fell victim to the evil machinations of a man who without a doubt, is the incarnation of the devil himself!

For those of us that simply refused to live as slaves in our own land, we left the shores of our motherland, our families, friends and loved ones behind; we headed for different destinations but were all in pursuit of one thing and one thing alone, the true meaning of freedom, justice and equity. It took us a while; in the course of our travels and experiences, we encountered the worst of our host countries but imbibed the best of their democratic principles and ideals… and now, as we get set to begin our journey back home in hopes of helping to rebuild the heart and soul of our beloved country, the same charlatans, stooges and sycophants that sold Nigeria’s soul to the devil, would once again like to visit the indignity of another mal-administration upon us again. Why? Because they are so corrupt and bereft of even the slightest semblance of human decency and dignity as to mortgage the future of their children and that of their children’s children… all to satisfy the narcissistic and psychotic yearnings of one person.

Haba, wake up Nigeria! For how much longer will you continue to underachieve and under-perform while the world looks on in wallowing pity? I am personally of the opinion that the cronies of this individual in question are either suffering from selective amnesia or narcosis. As Chief Gani Fawehinmi said in a recent interview, “If Babangida is qualified to contest, then they should open the gates of the prisons for all the criminals to come out to contest the presidential election.” I couldn’t agree more with you sir!

I am supremely confident that any attempt to impose a Babangida Presidency (talk about an oxymoron) on Nigeria, will undoubtedly, result in the break-up of that moribund edifice and Babangida may in fact become the next President of northern Nigeria. Then his stooges and sycophants in the south can go right along and each take one of the rooms at his 52-room mansion in Minna.

Never, and we mean never again!